Study Guide by Arpita Karwa
Dr. Faustus by Christopher Marlowe
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Christopher Marlowe’s play titled ‘The Tragic History of
the Life and Death of Doctor Faustus’ is commonly
shortened and simply referred to as ’Dr. Faustus’.
Published in 1604, this play depicts the clashing views
between the Medieval period and the emerging
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Renaissance. It shows how Dr. Faustus leads to his own
destruction by ditching humility and spiritual goodness
for power, wealth and other materialistic gains. The
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underlying message of the play is that our choices in life
decide our soul’s trajectory and whether it will reach
salvation or damnation.
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Faustus is a German scholar who is not interested in
traditional forms of knowledge — medicine, logic, law
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and theology. He is looking for something more. He
finally decides to learn the dark art of magic. Two angels
— Evil Angel and Good Angel come to pay a visit to
Faustus. While the Evil Angel supports him to learn
magic, the Good Angel encourages Faustus to leave magic
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and start reading scriptures. Faustus decides to side with
Evil Angel and starts lear ning magic.
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Faustus’s friends, Valdes and Cornelius support his
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decision. They teach him magic and tell him that he could
become popular and wealthy by using it. After learning
from them, Faustus is able to summon a devil named
Mephistopheles from hell. On being asked by
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Mephistopheles why he has been summoned, Faustus says
he would like twenty - four years of service from him.
Mephistopheles tells Faustus about his boss Lucifer. He
tells that Lucifer was earlier a God’s angel but due to
pride, he was now a devil in hell. Faustus proposes to give
his soul o Lucifer in exchange for twenty-four years of
service from Mephistopheles. Lucifer agrees to the deal
and wants Faustus to sign on a document in his own
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blood. Faustus obeys and cuts his arm to sign the
document with his blood. However, the blood starts to
solidify. This makes Faustus doubt if he has taken the
right decision. However, as soon as Mephistopheles
melts the blood using fire, Faustus’s doubts fade away
and he sells his soul. As soon as he does so, the words “
Homo Fuge” (meaning “O man, fly” in Latin) appear
on his arm.
Mephistopheles bestows Faustus with a book of spells
and answers his questions. However, Mephistopheles
refused to answer when Faustus asked who created the
Universe. This makes Faustus doubt his decision again.
Mephistopheles calls Lucifer and another devil
named Beelzebub. Lucifer asks Faustus to stop doubting
and instead, enjoy the entertainment he has got in store
for him. Lucifer puts up a brilliant show by bringing in
the personification of the seven deadly sins namely
pride, covetousness, wrath, envy, gluttony, sloth, and
lechery. Faustus enjoys it thoroughly.
Faustus now begins to use magic for travelling. He and
Mephistopheles land in a court in Rome where Pope
Adrian is present. Mephistopheles makes Faustus
invisible so he could play pranks with the Pope. He
creates a ruckus by stealing food from the Pope’s
banquet and punching him in his ears. He also helps a
German named Bruno escape Pope’s punishment using
his magical powers.
Faustus returns back to Germany and receives a note of
thanks from the German emperor, Charles V, for
helping Bruno. He also expresses his desire to see
Faustus create Alexander the Great. Faustus honours his
wish and conjures an image of Alexander. While Charles
is supremely impressed, a guest named Benvolio mocks
Faustus’s magical powers. As a punishment, Faustus
gives him horns.
Meanwhile, a townsman named Robin agrees to serve
Faustus’s servant, Wagner in exchange for learning some
magic tricks. Robin and his friend Rafe try to procure
free booze using magic and also summon
Mephistopheles, who turns them into animals for their
foolish actions.
 Study Guide by Arpita Karwa

A group of scholars at the University are hinted

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about Faustus’s nearing death. They ask Faustus

to summon Helen of Troy, the world’s most
beautiful woman according to Greek
Mythology. Faustus does so and also falls for her
beauty.

As Faustus dreads his death, he confesses his

wrongdoings to the fellow scholars, who

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promise to pray for him. The two angels appear
again before Faustus. The Evil Angel shows
him hell and the endless tortures. The Good
Angel shows him heaven and how its door is
now closed for him because of his greed.

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Faustus begs for mercy and requests to not be
taken to hell. However, it’s too late. As the
clock strikes midnight, a group of devils takes
Faustus’s body to hell. The next day, the
scholars find Faustus’s torn body and decide to
hold a funeral for him.
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 Study Guide by Arpita Karwa

Mind Map

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Infernal
master

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Mephastophilis
Contemplative devil

Lucifer
a. Earthly
The Evil Angel master Prince of devils

Spirit of evil
Voice of
conscience
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Claims
soul
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Master

Voice of
corruption Doctor Faustus Wagner
Proud, ambitious scholar Clumsy would-be magician
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The Good Angel

Spirit of good Teacher
Teacher
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ar

Valdes
Learned magician
Cornelius
Learned magician

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